In the series House of the Dragon, there is probably no more loyal soul than the rat catcher’s dog Cheese. And maybe his snout even looks familiar to you. Because this sweet four-legged friend is a real Hollywood star.
Attention Spoiler: Spoilers follow up to Season 2 Episode 2 of House of the Dragon.
Which dog is it? In the first episode of the second season of House of the Dragon, Daemon hires two thugs to take revenge on his rival Aemond and have him killed. In the process, we also meet a small, scruffy dog. This dog belongs to one of the two thugs, the rat catcher Cheese.
- In one scene, the rat catcher kicks his dog.
- This caused nearly as much outrage among fans as the subsequent atrocities.
- Even after his death, the dog remains heartbreakingly loyal to his terrible master.
From Stray to Hollywood Star
But not only in House of the Dragon did the four-legged friend have to go through a lot. The scars under his shaggy fur are unfortunately real and tell of a difficult time. Because Bobby, as the dog is really called, was originally a stray.
Who is Bobby? Bobby is a street dog from Cypress, California. He was found and rescued by a charity.
Just a few months after his rescue, he was taken in by Hollywood animal trainer Julie Tottman. She regularly works with rescued street animals and brings them to the big screen. Tottman has also worked on films such as Harry Potter, The Dark Knight, and Lassie.
And so it came that Bobby got his first big Hollywood role:
- He played Buddy, the sidekick of Cruella de Vil in the Disney live-action adaptation Cruella (2021).
- This is a prequel to the classic 101 Dalmatians, in which the ruthless Cruella kidnaps Dalmatians to make fur coats from them.
A True Natural Talent
How did Bobby perform? In an interview, trainer Julie Tottman reports (via Mirror.uk):
Bobby is one of the easiest rescued dogs I have ever worked with. He is so natural, he embraces acting and really comes alive.
I always have to cry. It’s so beautiful to see them play their first scene, knowing where they come from. The world writes them off, but I know from experience that rescue dogs are often the hardest working, most loyal, and loving animals.
So it’s no wonder that Bobby’s Hollywood career didn’t end with Cruella. He was able to impress once again in House of the Dragon and has become a real fan favorite.
For those worried about Bobby due to the kicking scene, there is good news: he was of course not really kicked!
Although he doesn’t appear on screen himself, there was also a lot of drama surrounding the dog of action star Sylvester Stallone: Sylvester Stallone sold his dog due to financial problems, later got him back under one condition
